Never Apologize: How the NRA Fights Gun Control Even After Mass Shootings

In the aftermath of mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, calls are once again intensifying for Congress to pass gun control legislation, with many pointing to the political influence of the National Rifle Association as a main cause of inaction to address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. The NRA, however, is in disarray, with allegations of corruption and a power struggle at the top of the organization rocking the gun lobbying group over the past year. For more on the NRA, its ability to quash gun control efforts, and the effect gun culture has had on civic life, we speak to reporter Alex Yablon of The Trace, a news outlet that covers guns and gun violence in the U.S. He says that even after mass shootings, the NRA never backs down from its hard-line positions. “Instead of apologizing or going on the defensive, they go on the offensive,” says Yablon. “They demand that lawmakers make it easier for more people to carry guns in public, and they very frequently attack the integrity and the character of those who want to crack down on loose gun laws.”

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